PHOTOS: Front pages of Italian newspapers criticize referee of Madrid-Juve

Following Juventus' 2-1 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in the Champions League yesterday, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport took aim at referee Manuel Grafe, whose decision to send off defender Giorgio Chiellini early in the second half all but killed off what would have otherwise been a sensational conclusion to the match.

"Old Lady Mugged", the headline reads (referencing the nickname of the Italian club) before following that up by saying "A beautiful and naive Juve [were] mistreated by the referee."

This, from Tuttosport, may not be as creative as the headline above, but it makes its point very clear nonetheless.

"Juventus with their heads held high, the referee no," it claims.

Replays showed that the red card was terribly harsh, as Chiellini's arm barely grazed the chin of Cristiano Ronaldo before the Portuguese star crumbled to the turf and reached for his face in contrived agony.

It worked, as the Italian champions could not muster any real opportunities with 10 men after looking dangerous in the opening half.

[H/T to 101 Great Goals and Adam Digby]